Apply for a research grant

Make the Change

Important Update for BRACE Grant Applicants

Due current limited funds, BRACE Trustees Ltd (BTL) has made the decision to pause the upcoming research grant rounds to ensure we can continue to responsibly manage our reserves. This means that the December 2025 round (deadline 1 September 2025) will not go ahead, and the March 2026 round will not open as scheduled.

Please be reassured that all existing and awarded grants are fully funded, and there is no risk to these commitments. We have a policy of only awarding new grants that we can fund in full from our uncommitted reserves, and we are unable to guarantee this for now.

This is a temporary pause, and the situation will be reviewed regularly, so please continue to check our website for information.

Despite the challenges of the current economic climate, BRACE continues to invest in vital dementia research thanks to the support of all our donors and fundraisers.

Over the past year we’ve funded a Consultant Senior Lecturer in Dementia Research at the University of Bristol, and more than a dozen new PhD studentships and pilot projects, as well as continuing our support of the revolutionary Fastball programme and the critical work of the South West Dementia Brain Bank.

We look forward to reopening applications soon, and are grateful for your understanding and continued support as we work to maximise our impact in dementia research. .

Many thanks,

The BRACE Team

Funding Through BRACE

How much funding can I apply for?

BRACE will consider applications for PhD Studentships, pilot projects and equipment grants.

PhD studentships grants will cover the cost of tuition fees. BRACE follows the MRC recommendations of a stipend and a fixed sum for consumables and other overheads, which is included in the grant. This typically is around £90,000-110,000.

Pilot projects usually last 12-18 months and cost no more than £70,000, but applicants with pilot proposals that exceed these guidelines are welcome to contact us for advice.

Equipment grants typically do not exceed more than £20,000 unless agreed.

What kind of research do BRACE fund?

BRACE is committed to funding high-quality research projects that contribute to the understanding, diagnosing, and treatment of dementias.

The charity funds research into all forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and vascular dementia. We welcome applications from areas related to dementia including:

Traumatic Brain Injury
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI)
Young-onset dementia.

Dementia-related to other neurological disorders, such as dementia in Parkinson’s and dementia related to Huntington’s disease, are eligible. However, we do not accept applications where the primary research focus is not on dementia aspects of the disease. All researchers must intend to publish the results of their studies.

BRACE funds research into hypothesis-driven quantitative research into treatment, this includes drug treatment, self-management strategies, carer support and music therapy all of which can play a significant role in dementia management.

Applications will only be considered from researchers based in academic/research institutions where there is clear evidence of existing studies on dementia. These institutions must be within the South West of England or South Wales.

Supported Institutions

BRACE is based in Bristol, so the research that we fund is all centred around the South West. As a result, we're only able to accept funding requests based out of our Supported Institutions. These are:

University of Bath
University of Bristol
University of Cardiff
University of Exeter
University of Plymouth
University of Swansea
University of The West of England (UWE)

A letter from the institution confirming the availability of facilitates for the proposed research project and verification of financial elements are required for consideration.

Our Ethics Commitment

BRACE is a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities. BRACE supports the endeavours of the AMRC to achieve and maintain ethical and transparent practices in medical research, including its statement on animal testing, including a commitment to the 3Rs of reduction, replacement and refinement as basic principles of humane animal research

Any project requiring ethical approval will only be awarded once such authorisation has been granted.

General Guidelines for Applicants

Before you send us your application, we recommend you read the general guideline document carefully - it contains important advice that may be helpful throughout your application

BRACE General Guidelines

BRACE Terms and Conditions for Grants

All applications undergo a triage process and are assessed by our independent Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC). If eligible after triage, they are sent to external peer reviewers and assessed by SAC at the final stages. BRACE’s application deadlines allow three months for the external peer review process. However, we depend on the availability of selected reviewers and cannot guarantee reviews in time for the Board to decide on application outcomes.